Safehaven Marine’s Thunder Child II sets new world record

A new over 50ft class Cork to the Fastnet Rock and back UIM World powerboat record was set last weekend by Safehaven Marine in its 23m long XSV20 Thunder Child II.

The new record is two hours and 36 minutes averaging 44.6 knots and recording a maximum speed of 53 knots on the run (subject to ratification by Union Internationale Motonautique (UIM), the world governing body), according to Echo Live.

The crew of skipper Frank Kowalski, Ciaran Monks, Carl Randalls, Mary Power and Robert Guzik, took the boat on a recce trip on Saturday with near perfect conditions and decided to attempt the record on Sunday.

The starting line was Weavers Point at the entrance to Cork Harbour setting off at 2pm on Sunday in light winds and only a long Atlantic ground swell to contend with.

It took the crew one hour and 21 minutes to reach Fastnet Rock, where a huge flotilla of 40-50 boats were waiting close by to watch as they passed.

The crew said it was a little stressful navigating through the boats as they rounded the rock but said it was fabulous to see them all set chase after Thunder Child II as she headed home.

The crew said that passing the Stags Rock and Kinsale Lighthouse heading East with boats coming out to watch them, Thunder Child II literally thundered home and crossed the finish line to another great welcome.